A tutor at a college made inappropriate comments to female students, grabbed their breasts and rubbed himself against them, a court has been told.

Ian Jones, aged 45, has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of sexual assault and is on trial at the crown court in Leamington.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2008 and 2012 at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College where Jones worked and involved five girls.

Prosecutor Graeme Simpson said: “The nature of the allegations is what one might call bullying, abusing his position of trust, but in each case it was overtly sexual.”

Jones, of Swale Road, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, was arrested in 2012 following an incident with a girl at the college

Mr Simpson said: “He walked up to her and put his hand into her coat pocket and moved his hand and touched the crotch of her jeans. She asked what he was doing, and he said he was looking for fags.

“Then when she bent over to pick up her bag, he put his hands on her breasts and tried to pull her backwards.”

In a meeting with the college’s safeguarding team she said Jones had made suggestive comments to her before and she had tried to avoid him as a result.

It’s alleged that on one occasion he slapped her bottom and said “nice peachy bum”.

On other occasions it’s claimed Jones pulled at the top she was wearing and looked down the front of it, making a comment about her breasts; held her by the waist and tried to pull her towards him; and, on the college car park, told her he could see her knickers through her clothes and offered her £30 to take them off.

Another girl claimed Jones pulled up her top and on a separate occasion she said he approached her from behind, pushed her so she was bending over, and pushed himself against her as if simulating sex.

Mr Simpson said there was a further incident where Jones grabbed the girl’s thong and commented on its colour.

When police launched an investigation three other girls came forward to make allegations about Jones.

One said Jones described her breasts as “a couple of airbags”. The jury is currently deliberating the verdict.